History of ANS

In 1938, several mothers of preschool children and one young teacher formed a “study group” which would become Amherst Cooperative Nursery School, Western New York’s first cooperative nursery school. The mothers sought to provide a beneficial educational and social experience for their children and to learn more about early childhood development themselves. Over the years, the mother’s study group evolved from study and observation to participation as teacher’s helpers in the classroom. Fathers, babysitters, grandparents and other extended family members are now all welcome to participate as co-opers or special visitors. The school was initially located in teacher or parent residences; as we grew in size, ANS moved to the Williamsville Methodist Church, then to Amherst Community Church, and finally to our present location in 1967. Our name was legally changed to Amherst Nursery School in 2008, but we remain a cooperative in fact and in spirit.